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The War Ends Preview Main Idea / Reading Focus
The United States Enters the War Faces of History: Woodrow Wilson The End of the Fighting A Difficult Peace Map: Europe and the Middle East
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The War Ends Preview, continued The Costs of the War
Quick Facts: Effects of World War I Visual Study Guide / Quick Facts Video: The Impact of Modern Warfare
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The War Ends Main Idea Reading Focus
After several years of bloody stalemate-and the entry of the United States into the conflict-the Allied Powers finally prevailed. The peace, however, proved difficult to establish. Reading Focus Why did the United States enter the war? What events led to the end of the fighting? What issues made the peace process difficult? What were the costs of the war?
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The United States Enters the War
German attacks on ships carrying Americans angered American people, leaders German plan to have Mexico attack U.S. also surfaced American Neutrality American public generally supported Allies U.S. remained neutral officially President Woodrow Wilson believed U.S. should stay out of affairs of other nations “He kept us out of war”
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Trouble on the seas Lusitania
Remaining neutral not easy with Germany attacking civilian ships Attacks part of policy called unrestricted submarine warfare Any ship traveling in waters around Great Britain subject to attack by German U-boats Lusitania Initially U-boats attacked only military, merchant ships Passenger ship Lusitania sunk, 120 Americans among the dead Fearing U.S. entry into war, Germany agreed to stop attacking passenger ships Germany hoped to defeat Allied powers before U.S. entered war
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The Zimmermann Note Final push to war Contents of note Call for war
Repeated attacks on shipping brought U.S. close to war on Germany Discovery of Zimmermann Note final push, February 1917 Secret message from German diplomat Arthur Zimmermann to Mexico Contents of note Germany proposed Mexico attack the U.S. in return for U.S. land Promised Texas, Arizona and New Mexico, all once belonging to Mexico Hoped war with Mexico would keep U.S. out of war in Europe Call for war American public called for war against Germany U.S. had kinship, financial ties to Great Britain, Allied Powers U.S. entered war on side of Allied Powers, April 1917
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Identify Cause and Effect
How did unrestricted submarine warfare affect U.S. entry into the war? Answer(s): Germany broke its promise to the United States to stop attacking passenger ships.
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The End of the Fighting A New German Offensive Assault on West
German leaders knew America entering the war would increase the strength of Allied Powers. Wanted to deal decisive blow to Central Powers before U.S. had time to ready for war Opportunity came with Russia’s withdrawal from war Russia out by end of 1917 German troops no longer needed on Eastern front Could launch new offensive in the west A New German Offensive Launched major assault, March 1918 Made progress, advanced to within 40 miles of Paris High cost to Germany, lost 800,000 troops By June, 1918, U.S. troops arrived in Europe Gave Allies hope, discouraged Germans Assault on West
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German Collapse Balance of power shifted Germany a defeated force
Allied forces stopped German assault in Second Battle of the Marne Allies now on the offensive Allies used tanks, aircraft; gained huge amounts of territory Germany a defeated force Many Germans gave up without a fight Began to doubt their own power Great turmoil within German ranks End of war Allied forces broke through Hindenburg Line German leaders sought armistice with Allies Other Central Powers also admitted defeat, war ended
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How did fighting come to an end?
Summarize How did fighting come to an end? Answer(s): The Allies used tanks and aircraft at the Marne, then broke through the Hindenburg Line, and Germans sought an armistice.
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A Difficult Peace Although peace had come to the battlefield, the leaders of the war’s major countries still had to work out a formal peace agreement. This task would prove difficult. Wilson announced his vision of world peace, Fourteen Points Included reduction of weapons, right of people to choose own government Proposed organization of world nations, protect from aggression Wilson’s Vision Leaders of four major Allies all had different ideas of peace treaty French wanted to punish Germany, reparations for cost of war British wanted to punish Germany, but not weaken it Allied Goals Italy’s leader hoped to gain territory for his nation, but was disappointed to find himself mostly ignored by other leaders during peace talks.
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The Treaty of Versailles
After difficult negotiations, the Allies finally compromised on the Treaty of Versailles. The treaty was named after the French Palace of Versailles, where the treaty signing took place. Germany forced to pay enormous amount of money to war’s victims Treaty also assessed responsibility for the war on Germany Key points Military size limited Return conquered lands to France, Russia German land taken to form Poland Other colonies given to various world powers Weaker Germany Furious, though no choice but to sign Reparations crippled economy Bitterness would affect German politics in years to come German reaction
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Aftermath League of Nations Main goals Other treaties
Organization of world governments proposed by Wilson Established by Treaty of Versailles Main goals Encourage cooperation, keep peace between nations Germany excluded U.S. did not ratify treaty, not member, weakened League Other treaties Separate agreements with all defeated Central Powers Made important changes to Europe Changes in Europe Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire lands broken apart Independent nations created: Austria, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Czechoslovakia, Turkey
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The Middle East Changes in Middle East Zionist movement
Former Ottoman lands turned into mandates, territories to be ruled by European powers Syria, Lebanon became French mandates Palestine, Iraq became British mandates European nations supposed to control mandates only until they were able to govern selves Changes in Middle East Movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East Balfour Declaration favored establishing Jewish state in Palestine Britain created Transjordan from Palestine Mandate Mandates eventually became colonies Zionist movement
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Why was it so difficult to work out a peace agreement?
Summarize Why was it so difficult to work out a peace agreement? Answer(s): because each of the four major Allies had different goals
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The Costs of the War Human Costs Economic Costs Political Changes
Nearly 9 million soldiers killed in battle Millions wounded, taken prisoner Almost an entire generation of young German, Russian, French men died, were wounded in war Deadly outbreak of influenza spread by returning soldiers killed some 50 million worldwide, spring 1918 War destroyed national economies Farmland, cities devastated Economic chaos in much of Europe Cost Europe role as dominant economic region of world U.S., Japan, others prospered during war Economic Costs World War I caused widespread political unrest Communist revolution in Russia Monarchies in Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire overthrown Political, social turmoil would shape world in years to come Political Changes
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The Costs of the War Unrest in Colonies
Many colonists who fought in war heard noble words about importance of freedom, democracy After fighting for colonial rulers, expected rights for themselves Wartime sacrifices did not win new freedoms European powers split up lands controlled by Germans, Austro-Hungarians, Ottomans and redistributed them to other colonial powers
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What were the costs of the war?
Summarize What were the costs of the war? Answer(s): Millions of people died or were wounded. Some nations' economies were devastated while others prospered. Some people enjoyed the benefits of freedom and democracy after the war, but others remained under the control of colonial rulers.
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Video The Impact of Modern Warfare
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